Should the singing of Vande Mataram be made compulsory?Should the singing of Vande Mataram be made compulsory?

The recent fatwa against the singing of 'Vande Mataram' has re-ignited an age-old debate about the acceptance of Vande Mataram as our national song by the Muslim community.

The fresh fatwa is not without history. In 2006, the BJP had asked all schools and educational institutions to sing the national song on the occasion of 125 years of the song's creation. They were opposed by the clerics, who later issued a fatwa against the singing of the song.

On the other side of the debate are prominent Muslims who say they do not find the song provocative as the stanzas that were against Muslims have been eliminated by the Congress Working Committee way back in 1937.

Is this fresh fatwa then, a non-issue? Should the clerics focus more on the development of the minority community rather than involving themselves in petty divisive politics for the votebank? Is the singing of Vande Mataram a litmus test of our patriotism?

Modified and updated Vandemataram story posted earlier. Was Vande Matram Written By Bankim at All, Another Controversy Palash Biswas...o3.indiatimes.com/palashbiswas/archive/2006/.../2823539.aspx - Cached - Similar -

I have been writing for a long time how the Hindutva Forces have been using Vande Mataram to divide and Rule the Plural society.

Kishanchand bhagat, based in lalgola, Murshidabad in bengal has proved very well that the Song was never written by Bankim Chandra. Originally it was a Shakti STUTI used by the Tantriks who worshipped the Sickled kali and the temple still exists in Lalgola Open jail campus. Bankim stayed here where kaji Najrul aslo stayed and Wrote Shyama Sangeet.

The Queen of nator on the bank of Padma across Lalgola was the leader of the Indigenous aboriginal masses in Bengal.East India company arrested the Queen which ignited the Agrarian Revolt originally in shape of Peasant rising and it had nothing to do with Hindutva as the Muslims as well as Hidnu, mainly SC, ST and OBC people were fighting against the Colonial Rule. Sadhus as well as Sufi and baul, the NON Hindu Muslim Religios leaders also particiaped in the Revolt which was ROMANTICISED further by Bankim chandra in his Novel, better to say ROMANCE DEBI Chowdharani. He made the Peasant Secular Anti Feudal Anti Imperialist Insurrectionagainst company Rule a HINDUTVA identity and later nationality affar. Bankim was Never concerend with Scoial Realism and was straight Forward Brahaminwho defended the Feudal system and oppsed land reforms. He meant BANGA MATA which may be understood with the referecnces in Bangal Brahaminical Nationality and Brahamin Front ruling Bengal and which manipulated the Partition of bengala s well as India. The Brahamin hegemony was fed up with Dalit Reanissance in bengal and dalit Muslim Unity which denied them state power until India was Divided. had bengal and Punjab remained undivided the Muslims, sikhs and dalits with Tribal communities and OBC woud bhave ruled India. Tagore proved to be the saviour of Brahaminical hegemony in alliance with Nehru and Gandhi who made the Hindu India nationality justifying the Hindu rashtra making Bangamata, Bharat mata the War Goddess Durga in Disguise.

Palash Biswas

Kolkata, India

Sep 07, 2006 12:00 AM

1

It was quite understandable in the part of JNU Historians in Greenising our history without a single trace of Barbaric Mughals or a Fanatic Jinnah and infact glorifying those likes in our books. But we all have studied the significance of this song in our freedom movement, despite these commie Historians. It was the driving inspirational force and the sole mantra against the oppressive English for our grand fathers in all levels including for those in Ex-Indias. In all our demonstrations against the British they shouted "Vande Mataram" from within their souls. All of a sudden the song became communal and has to be abandoned. And what next... changing of the flag to all green??? since they won't salute the chakra,white & saffron in our flag since it's not advisable in their evil book...???

The RSS has said it would translate the 'Vande Mataram' into Urdu for distribution among Muslims.On the other hand, the Hatred campaign targeting the Muslims directly and indirectly Sc, OBC and St communities along with Converted Minorities as the Muslim Population was created with Conversion of the Outcaste Communities by the Manusmriti Rule. Hence,Kancha Illaaiya refuges to sing Vandemataram as he does no want to Worship the War Goddess provoked to Kill the Demonised Aboriginal Indigenous Black Untouchables.

The RSS Chief, Mohan Bhagwat has warned that the nation's integrity was under threat from various forces inside and outside the country.

Addressing a function here last evening, Bhagwat said that China's interference in the internal matters of the country was increasing while dispute with Pakistan has been going on for many years.

The RSS Chief said that there was a time when India wanted to emulate Russia, then it began looking towards America and now it is seeing towards China.

"All this is unfortunate and I wonder when we would think of becoming truly Indian," he said.

The RSS Chief said that the country's integrity was also being threatened by terrorism and naxalites.

Bhagwat said that globalisation may have helped to increase the strength of India but there are dangers hovering around the country.

"We will get the Vande Matram translated into Urdu and it will be distributed among the members of Muslim community," former RSS chief K C Sudarshan told a meeting of senior Sangh functionaries here yesterday.

According to the Holy Quran, God has sent 1,24,000 prophets, he claimed and said "Rama and Krishna may be among them. If Muslims accept them as messengers of God, then the differences will be wiped off".

Stating that Ayodhya is a holy place for both Hindus and Muslims, the RSS leader said, "It is the birth place of Hazrat Nuh (one of the messengers of God according to Quran). Manu and Ram were also born here."

The Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind had on Tuesday asked members of the community not to recite Vande Mataram on the ground that some verses of the National Song are against the tenets of Islam.

Meanwhile,Defying the 'fatwa' issued by Jamiat-Ulama-e-Hind against rendition of Vande Mataram, a group of Muslims led by a clergyman joined people from other communities in singing the national song in front of a mosque here.

A large number of people from a cross section of the society collected in front of the Jama Masjid at Betul Bazar at the invitation of its Imam Hafiz Abdul Razique and recited the song yesterday.

The event was organised by "Rukmani Balaji Mandir", its founder Sam Verma, an NRI, said.

After singing the national song at the temple, a rally acclaiming "Bharat Mata" was taken out and when it was proceeding towards the Bazar Chowk, Razique requested them to sing "Vande Mataram" in front of the Mosque. Several members of the minority community joined in.

"It is not against Islam to sing Vande Mataram," Razique said and added that he himself requested those taking part in the rally to sing the national song in front of the Mosque.

The Jamiat, one of the most influential bodies of Muslim clerics in the country, had recently issued an edict that recital of the national song went against the tenets of Islam that preaches monotheism.

The RSS is neither a political outfit nor a para-military force, but is an organisation engaged in unifying society on the basis of Hindutva, its chief Mohan Bhagwat said today.

"Though, we have our flag and some people from the RSS have joined political organisations, the Sangh has nothing to do with politics," he said at a function here.

"The RSS is neither a political outfit nor a para-military force. Its primary function is to unify society on the basis of Hindutva," Bhagwat told Sangh cadres.

The RSS Sarsanghchalak invited people from other religions to see functioning of the Sangh from close range to know the truth.

Terming Hinduism as the "most tolerant religion", Bhagwat said only it had the capability to hold society together.

He said the Union government should gear itself to meet any challenge posed to the country by its "hostile neighbours" like Pakistan and China.

On the leadership change in the BJP, Bhagwat said the Sangh had nothing to do with it.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) today condemned an international move to equate caste with race and said it would destroy the social fabric of India.

"It should be borne in mind that all efforts to internationalise caste are designs to weaken our national solidarity and destroy our social fabric. They should be opposed by all right-thinking citizens in all fora," RSS General Secretary Bhaiyaji Joshi told reporters.

He said in the aftermath of the Durban review conference held in Geneva in April 2009, reports appeared suggesting renewed attempts to bring caste into the ambit of racism. It was worthwhile to recall similar attempts made by certain western powers and some NGOs sponsored by them at the time of the world conference against racism organised by the UN in South Africa in August-September 2001, he said.

He said the Centre has taken a rational and well-reasoned view that equating caste with race is grossly incorrect and will defeat the very purpose of obliterating racism in the world for which the conference was convened. Many scholars and eminent sociologists described the attempts to equate caste with race as "politically mischievous and scientifically nonsensical."

Joshi said the attempts to internationalise the caste issue were very much on and certain European powers were using some words like "descent" to buttress their claims that caste too was a form of racism.

"Unfortunately, certain statements attributed to the present high commissioner of the UNHRC also indicated her interest in this direction fuelling many controversies," he said.

"It is becoming detrimental to the very mandate of the UNHRC", Joshi said and urged the Centre to be alert to these designs.

"Caste is an internal matter of India and we have addressed problems through various constitutional safeguards like the Civil Rights Act (1954) and the SC and ST Act (1978).

Betul (MP), Nov 9 (PTI) Defying the ''fatwa'' issued by Jamiat-Ulama-e-Hind against rendition of Vande Mataram, a group of Muslims led by a clergyman joined people from other communities in singing the national song in front of a mosque here. A large number of people from a cross section of the society collected in front of the Jama Masjid at Betul Bazar at the invitation of its Imam Hafiz Abdul Razique and recited the song yesterday.

The event was organised by "Rukmani Balaji Mandir", its founder Sam Verma, an NRI, said. After singing the national song at the temple, a rally acclaiming "Bharat Mata" was taken out and when it was proceeding towards the Bazar Chowk, Razique requested them to sing "Vande Mataram" in front of the Mosque.

Several members of the minority community joined in. "It is not against Islam to sing Vande Mataram," Razique said and added that he himself requested those taking part in the rally to sing the national song in front of the Mosque.

The Jamiat, one of the most influential bodies of Muslim clerics in the country, had recently issued an edict that recital of the national song went against the tenets of Islam that preaches monotheism.

R R Patil, who was forced to resign as Maharashtra Home Minister after the Mumbai terror attacks, today said strengthening security to avert a 26/11- type strike would be the government's top priority.

"Beefing up the security apparatus and improving coordination among concerned agencies would top my agenda," Patil, who has made a comeback to the Home department a year after the attacks, said.

The senior NCP leader while quitting after the Mumbai attacks had said, "My conscience did not permit me to continue in the post". He was later made the party's state unit chief.

"Coastal security is already being strengthened. We will improve coordination with the Navy and the Coast Guard," Patil told PTI. The terrorists involved in 26/11 attacks had come via the sea route.

The first batch of Force One commandos, the elite force formed on the lines of National Security Guards (NSG), is ready, the Minister said.

"The first batch has been trained and will be operational soon," he said.

The Government would also speed up modernisation of police force and strengthen intelligence machinery, Patil said.

The US said it has briefed the Indian government on the case of David Headley Coleman, nabbed by FBI last month for plotting a major terror attack in India at the LeT's behest, and continues to follow the matter.

"I know that our Ambassador (Tim Roemer) has briefed the government of India on the case, and we continue to follow the case," State Department Spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters in response to a question at his daily news briefing.

49-year-old Headley was arrested last month at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport as he prepared to board a flight to Philadelphia, intending to travel to Pakistan. FBI also arrested another person, Tahawwur Hussain Rana, 48, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin, in the case.

Kelly refused to divulge any further information about the case, stating that the issue is sub-judice.

"I'm not at liberty to divulge the details of the interrogation. It's an ongoing legal case, and it really is up to the Department of Justice .... That's really in their purview," he said.

"But I do know that we have briefed the Government of India on the broad parameters of the case," Kelly said.

RSS today said India's response to the acts of aggression is "grossly inadequate" along the Indo-China border and asked Government to take immediate steps to strengthen the frontiers.

"It is necessary to enhance response capability of our forces on the Indo-China border in the face of huge military build up by China on the other side," Sangh General Secretary, Suresh Joshi told reporters at the end of the three-day national executive meet of the RSS here today.

"The Chinese have deployed three Es -- engagement, encirclement and encouragement of our enemies -- as their tactical weapons to harass India," said a resolution unanimously adopted at the meet.

"They have also developed Coco Islands Listening Post in South Myanmar into a full-fledged military base and are building a commercial port in Sri Lanka while the Gwadar military port in the Sindh province of Pakistan built by them is ready for operations," it said.

"Our government should tell its counterparts in China that they must vacate the land annexed in the western sector and make no claims over the remaining sectors. It should also be asked to honour the McMahon Line," he said.

Joshi said China had succeeded in raking up Arunachal Pradesh issue in the Asian development Bank (ADB) with a view to scuttle the efforts to secure loans for developmental activity in that state.

It also unsuccessfully tried to prevent the Nuclear Supplier Group countries from lifting sanctions against India, he said.

The executive meeting also voiced its opposition to appeasement of minorities in any form in the country.

RSS, Joshi said, was opposed to Bihar's NDA government move to open a branch of the Aligarh Muslim University in Kishanganj. "We consider it as a step towards appeasement of minorities."

Defence intelligence agencies were in an awkward situation today after the Home Ministry raised doubts over its alert of a possible Mumbai-type terror strike in the country being sounded allegedly without verifying the relevant inputs.

According to sources in the Home Ministry, Naval intelligence is believed to have picked up some intercept suggesting that a Mumbai-type terror strike could be carried out in four cities including Mumbai and Ahmedabad. The alert was transmitted to other agencies and reported in the media.

However, when coordinates of the intercept were asked by the Home Ministry from the Defence sleuths for verification, the sources said that no message was recovered thereafter raising suspicions over the authenticity of the intercepts.

This episode in the backdrop of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram categorical assertions in his orders to intelligence agencies including that from the Defence services and para-military forces that all information about threats should be verified properly before sharing it with other intelligence agencies, a Home Ministry official said.

The alert from the Naval intelligence stated that Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists may carry out another attack at Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Kolkata.

Defence Intelligence Agencies had earlier alerted about a possible attack on World Badminton Championship in Hyderabad. After an internal inquiry, it was found that the intelligence input provided by DIA was baseless.

9 Nov 2009 ... Defying the 'fatwa' issued by Jamiat-Ulama-e-Hind against rendition of Vande Mataram, a group of Muslims led by a clergyman joined people ...news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?669154 - 5 hours ago

In an unprecedented incident, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) MLAs today attacked Samajwadi Party legislator Abu Azmi inside the state assembly for taking oath in Hindi and not in Marathi marking a violent debut for Raj Thackeray's party in the House.

Stung by what Chief Minister Ashok Chavan called as "goondagardi" (hooliganism) by MNS never witnessed in the House, the Assembly acted tough and passed a resolution suspending four MNS members from the House for four years within hours after the chaos. The MLAs were also accused of misbehaving with a woman MLA.

Stating that hooliganism will not be tolerated, Chavan also did not rule out action against MNS chief Raj Thackeray saying this will be taken if the video footage of his reported comments outside the Assembly showed he had instigated his party MLAs.

The three-year-old MNS, which returned 13 members to the House, all first timers, unleashed chaos during the oath taking by the new MLAs in a turbulent start to the maiden session of the 12th state Assembly.

The proceedings in the backdrop of the so-called diktat by Raj Thackeray that all members must take oath in Marathi or face consequences went on smoothly until Azmi's turn came when he was manhandled by MNS members who pushed and punched him for insisting that he will take oath only in Hindi.

Ram Kadam allegedly slapped and hit Azmi on the chest and shoulders while Ramesh Vanjale snatched the microphone and uprooted the podium as a result of which the paper from which he was reading out his oath fell.

As Azmi began reading out the oath in Hindi, the MNS members tried to shout him down and asked him to switch over to Marathi. When Azmi remained defiant, they menacingly advanced towards him.

The SP leader, who picked the paper up and continued reading out the oath, was seen engaged in a heated argument with the MNS legislators as the House was drowned in din leading to a 30-minute adjournment.

As Azmi was being roughed up, some MNS members were seen carrying banners and shouting pro-Marathi slogans. MNS MLAs surrounded Azmi from all sides when the House had hardly been adjourned.

Speaking to reporters outside the House, an unfazed Azmi defended his decision of taking oath in Hindi and said he had done nothing to warrant such action by the MNS MLAs.

But an unrepentant Ram Kadam justified his action saying Azmi's insistence on taking oath in Hindi betrayed his lack of respect for Marathi language and people.

The incident evoked widespread condemnation across the political spectrum with demands being made for stern action against the erring MNS MLAs.

Ashok Chavan said Constitution of India allowed members to take oath in any language. The four suspended members will not be allowed to enter the premises of the Assembly in Mumbai and Nagpur, he said.

Buoyed by the impressive Assembly debut of his party, Raj had recently announced his legislators would ensure that all MLAs took oath in Marathi taking the politics of regional chauvnism straight to the Assembly.

"If any MLA does not take oath in Marathi, the House will see what happens," Raj had threatened. Raj issued a reminder today, asking all 287 MLAs in the House to take oath in Marathi.

"This is a blot on democracy in the state. I condemn the incident. The government will deal with those who take law into their hands," Chavan said.

MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar took objection to the resolution and said it was Azmi who had provoked his colleagues and demanded action against the SP leader.

Shiv Sena-BJP alliance members abstained when the resolution suspending the four MLAs was approved

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshvardhan Patil said the conduct of the four suspended MLAs was "most condemnable" and against the highest tradition of the House.

"This act had tarnished the image of the august House and hence amounts to breach of privilege," Patil said.

MNS members also tried to brush past PWP member Meenakshi Patil who tried to intervene as they were assaulting Azmi. BJP group leader Eknath Khadse said the way MNS members had behaved with the woman member had maligned the image of the House.

The MNS members' fury, which was in full flow as Azmi took oath, was, however, missing, as some members, including former minister Baba Siddiqui, took oath in languages other than Marathi.

Siddiqui, Congress MLA from Bandra, took oath in English. Girish Mahajan, BJP member from Jalgaon, took oath in Sanskrit.

Azmi later told reporters that he had full respect for Marathi language. He demanded suspension of MNS members for the entire five-year term and arrest of Raj Thackeray.

"I had given notice to Legislature officials 10 days ago that I would be taking oath in Hindi," he said.

Filed At: Nov 09, 2009 15:09 IST , Edited At: Nov 09, 2009 18:02 IST

Religious Leaders

Don't Equate It With Patriotism

While RSS, BJP and others go on and on about making the singing of Vande Mataram mandatory, the various maulanas and other Muslim leaders point to the song's controversial past and question the need to rake up the controversy now. Others want a proper translation and understanding.

Syed Ahmed Bukhari, Shahi Imam, Delhi Jama Masjid: Vande Mataram is against Islamic beliefs and asking Muslims to sing it would amount to suppression of the community. When it comes to worship, only Allah is given that honour. A Muslim cannot worship his or her parents, motherland and even the Prophet though they are held in high esteem. Ever since Independence, all governments at the Centre and in states have been suppressing Muslims. This proposal is yet another example. If somebody sings Vande Mataram voluntarily, I have no objections. But if people are forced to do so, it will meet with resistance.

Avtar Singh Makkar, president, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee: How can I stop Sikhs from singing Vande Mataram when I cannot even prevent SGPC-run schools. I, alone, am not powerful enough to direct all members of the community not to sing the national song. (On 5 August he had issued a directive to schools run by the SGPC not to recite Vande Mataram as it only 'spreads a particular religion and does not fulfill the aspirations of minorities, including Sikhs, Muslims and Christians. It's a conspiracy to extend communalism in the nation'.)

K.S. Sudarshan, Sarsanghachalak, RSS: Singing Vande Mataram should be compulsory in all schools and academic institutions and Indians irrespective of their religion or faith should have no objection to reciting the national song. Those who do not have faith in Bharatmata have no right to live in the country. The current bout of controversy is the manifestation of a wider conspiracy. The nation was bifurcated in similar situations in 1947.

Mufti Zulfiqar, president, Uttar Pradesh Imams Organisation: Muslims are loyal to the nation and there is no need to prove their loyalty.

Mozaha Anjar Shah Kashmiri, Darul Uloom Deoband: Vande Mataram was under controversy since 1876 as it was against the tenets of the Shariat law to worship sky and soil. But Muslims are loyal to the nation.

Shaista Amber, chairman, All-India Muslim Women Personal Law Board: I support the fatwa issued by Deoband for closure of madarsas on September 7 to avoid controversy regarding singing of Vande Mataram on that day.

Maulana Marghoob ur Rahman, director, Dar-ul Uloom, Deoband: The Dar-ul Uloom has not issued any fatwa on the singing of the national song, no appealed to Muslim children to stay away from schools on September 7. A certain section is wanting to attack Dar-ul Uloom on this without any basis, as no fatwa has been issued.

Daawat, bi-weekly of Jamaat-e-Islami: There is no consensus on how the song is viewed by the Constitution and if it does have a controversial past, why has it been raked up now? Equating Vande Mataram with patriotism is wrong and being done with an objective of dividing society and taking political advantage of the situation.

Maulana Kalbe Sadiq, vice-president, All India Muslim Personal Law Board: According to the dictionary, ' vande' means to worship and as such it is not right for Muslims to recite it. However if ' vande' means saluting or paying respect to the country, there is nothing wrong in its recitation by Muslims. [He said he disagreed with the influential Darul Uloom seminary's advice to Muslim children not to attend school on September seven and suggested Muslim children could join the recitation of Vande Mataram but omit the word 'vande']. Eminent Sanskrit and Muslim scholars could work together to ascertain the correct Urdu translation of the word 'vande'. It is a "non-issue" created by the BJP, which is desperately looking for an issue for its survival. The BJP should restrain its Muslim leaders from issuing reckless statements on the issue. Some clerics have been harming the cause of Islam by issuing reckless fatwas at regular intervals on practically every issue and making it appear as if they were religious diktats

Mahmood A Madani, organising general secretary, Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind: It is wrong to relate reciting of Vande Mataram with patriotism. Muslims are firm in their resolve that they cannot and should not sing Vande Mataram and they should not be forced to do so. The Centre hasn't made the recitation of the song mandatory and the states should also follow that. If forced to sing, we will protest it with peaceful means, we will take up this issue to court. Muslims do not have to prove their love for motherland to anyone. We deeply love India as our motherland but cannot worship it as 'Ibadat sirf ek Khuda ki hoti hain' (only God is worshipped). Vande Mataram is a hymnical tribute to Goddess Durga, therefore, we cannot recite it. Even R N Tagore, M N Roy had said Muslims should not be forced to recite it.

I don't want to argue with him or anyone, but his statement cannot be construed as the statement of the MPLB of which I am also a member. (On asked to comment on All-India Muslim Personal Law Board Maulana Kalbe Sadiq's contention that if 'Vande' meant salutation, respect or homage Muslims can sing the national song).

Challenge to religion comes from those who indulge in terrorism in the name of religion, not from those who sing the National Song and express their gratitude for all the beneficence of motherland - thus strengthening the bond of fraternity and brotherhood.

So what explains the funk the party is in? Well, first, there is wide condemnation of "agar hindustan mein rahnaa hogaa to Vande Mataram kahnaa hogaa". Add the heart-burn over no control on madrasas, and the 1998 UP experiment. Top it with the three leaders who failed miserably on TV to sing, remember or explain the meaning of the song.

In 2003, ?BBC World Service conducted an international poll to choose ten most famous songs of all time. Around 7000 songs were selected from all over the world. According to BBC, people from 155 countries/island voted. Vande Mataram was ranked second in the top ten songs. [3]

However, many muslim organizations in India have declared fatwas against singing Vande Mataram, due to the song giving a notion of worshipping Mother India, which is unislamic[4].

It is generally believed that the concept of Vande Mataram came to Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay when he was still a government official under the British Raj. Around 1870, the British rulers of India had declared that singing of God Save the Queen would be mandatory.[2] He wrote it in a spontaneous session using words from two languages he was expert in, Sanskrit and Bengali. However, the song was initially highly criticized for the difficulty in pronunciation of some of the words.[2] The song first appeared in Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay's book Anandamatha (pronounced Anondomôth in Bengali), published in 1882 amid fears of a ban by British Raj. However, the song itself was actually written in 1876.[2] Jadunath Bhattacharya set the tune for this song just after it was written.[2]

"Vande Mataram" was the national cry for freedom from British rule during the freedom movement. Large rallies, fermenting initially in Bengal, in the major metropolis of Calcutta, would work themselves up into a patriotic fervour by shouting the slogan "Vande Mataram", or "Hail to the Mother(land)!". The British, fearful of the potential danger of an incited Indian populace, at one point banned the utterance of the motto in public forums, and imprisoned many freedom fighters for disobeying the proscription. Rabindranath Tagore sang Vande Mataram in 1896 at the Calcutta Congress Session held at Beadon Square. Dakhina Charan Sen sang it five years later in 1901 at another session of the Congress at Calcutta. Poet Sarala Devi Chaudurani sang the song in the Benares Congress Session in 1905. Lala Lajpat Rai started a journal called Vande Mataram from Lahore.[2]Hiralal Sen made India's first political film in 1905 which ended with the chant. Matangini Hazra's last words as she was shot to death by the Crown police were Vande Mataram[5]

In 1907, Bhikaiji Cama (1861-1936) created the first version of India's national flag (the Tiranga) in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1907. It had Vande Mataram written on it in the middle band.[6]

A number of lyrical and musical experiments have been carried out, and many versions of the song were created and released throughout the 20th century and into the 21st century. Many of these versions have employed traditional South Asianclassicalragas. Versions of the song have been visualized on celluloid in a number of films, including Leader, Amar Asha, and Anandamath. It is widely believed that the tune set for All India Radio station version was composed by Ravi Shankar.[2]

In 1937, the Indian National Congress discussed at length the status of the song. It was pointed out then that though the first two stanzas began with an unexceptionable evocation of the beauty of the motherland, in later stanzas there are references where the motherland is likened to the Hindu goddess Durga. Therefore, the Congress decided to adopt only the first two stanzas as the national song. To this day the national songs of India consists of only these first two stanzas of Vande Mataram, along with the national anthem Jana gana mana and Saare Jahan Se accha.

"Vande Mataram! These are the magic words which will open the door of his iron safe, break through the walls of his strong room, and confound the hearts of those who are disloyal to its call to say Vande Mataram." (Rabindranath Tagore in Glorious Thoughts of Tagore, p.165)

The controversy becomes more complex in the light of Rabindranath Tagore's rejection of the song as one that would unite all communities in India. In his letter to Subhash Chandra Bose (1937), Rabindranath wrote:

"The core of Vande Mataram is a hymn to Bharat Mata( Mother India): this is so plain that there can be no debate about it. Of course Bankimchandra does show Durga to be inseparably united with Bengal in the end, but no Mussulman [Muslim], christians and Arya Samajis can be expected patriotically to worship the ten-handed deity as 'Swadesh' [the nation]. This year many of the special [Durga] Puja numbers of our magazines have quoted verses from Vande Mataram - proof that the editors take the song to be a hymn to Durga. The novel Anandamath is a work of literature, and so the song is appropriate in it. But Parliament is a place of union for all religious groups, and there the song cannot be appropriate. When Bengali Mussulmans show signs of stubborn fanaticism, we regard these as intolerable. When we too copy them and make unreasonable demands, it will be self-defeating."

In a postscript to this same letter, Rabindranath says:

"Bengali Hindus have become agitated over this matter, but it does not concern only Hindus. Since there are strong feelings on both sides, a balanced judgment is essential. In pursuit of our political aims we want peace, unity and good will - we do not want the endless tug of war that comes from supporting the demands of one faction over the other." [7]

In the last decade, Vande Mataram has been used as a rallying cry by Hindu nationalists in India, who have challenged the status of the current national anthem by Rabindranath.

The composition consisting of words and music known as Jana Gana Mana is the National Anthem of India, subject to such alterations as the Government may authorise as occasion arises, and the song Vande Mataram, which has played a historic part in the struggle for Indian freedom, shall be honored equally with Jana Gana Mana and shall have equal status with it. (Applause) I hope this will satisfy members. (Constituent Assembly of India, Vol. XII, 24-1-1950)

On August 22, 2006, there was a row in the Lok Sabha of the Indian Parliament over whether singing of Vande Mataram in schools should be made mandatory. The ruling coalition (UPA) and Opposition members debated the Government's stance that singing the national song Vande Mataram on September 7, 2006, to mark the 125th year celebration of its creation should be voluntary. This led to the House being adjourned twice. Human Resources Development Minister Arjun Singh noted that it was not binding on citizens to sing the song. Arjun Singh had earlier asked all state governments to ensure that the first two stanzas of the song were sung in all schools on that day. BJP Deputy Leader V. K. Malhotra wanted the Government to clarify whether singing the national song on September 7 in schools was mandatory or not. On August 28, targeting the BJP, Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said that in 1998 when Atal Behari Vajpayee of the BJP was the Prime Minister, the BJP supported a similar circular issued by the Uttar Pradesh government to make the recitation compulsory. But Vajpayee had then clarified that it was not necessary to make it compulsory.[8]

On September 7, 2006, the nation celebrated the national song. Television channels showed school children singing the song at the notified time.[9] Some Muslim groups had discouraged parents from sending their wards to school on the grounds, after the BJP had repeatedly insisted that the national song must be sung. However, many Muslims did participate in the celebrations[9].

Though a number of Muslim organizations and individuals have opposed Vande Mataram being used as a "national song" of India, citing many religious reasons, some Muslim personalities have admired and even praised Vande Mataram as the "National Song of India" . Arif Mohammed Khan, a former member of parliament for the Bharatiya Janata Party, wrote an Urdu translation of Vande Mataram which starts as Tasleemat, maan tasleemat.[10] In 2006, amidst the controversy of whether singing of the song in schools should be mandatory or optional, no Indian Muslims did show support for singing the song.[9]

All India Sunni Ulema Board on Sept 6, 2006, issued a fatwa that the Muslims can sing the first two verses of the song. The Board president Moulana Mufti Syed Shah Badruddin Qadri Aljeelani said that "If you bow at the feet of your mother with respect, it is not shirk but only respect."[11] Shia scholar and All India Muslim Personal Law Board vice-president Maulana Kalbe Sadiq stated on Sept 5, 2006 that scholars need to examine the term "vande." He asked, "Does it mean salutation or worship?"[12]

Jamait-e-Ulema Hind on November 3, 2009, issued a fatwa against singing the national song, Vande Mataram, and declared that Muslims should not sing it as its reciting is against Islam [13].

Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee or SGPC, the paramount representative body in the Sikh Panth, requested the Sikhs to not sing "Vande Mataram" in the schools and institutions on its centenary on Sept 7, 2006[14]. SGPC head, Avtar Singh Makkar, expressed concern that "imposing a song that reflected just one religion was bound to hurt the sentiments of the Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and other religious minorities. The DSGMC (Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee) has called singing of "Vande Mataram" against Sikh tenents[15] as the Sikhs sought "sarbat da bhala" (universal welfare) and did not believe in "devi and devta"[16]. DSGMC head H. S. Sarna also added that the song "Vande Mataram" had been rejected long by well known freedom fighter Sikhs like Baba Kharak Singh and Master Tara Singh[17].

Fr. Cyprian Kullu from Jharkhand stated in an interview with AsiaNews: "The song is a part of our history and national festivity and religion should not be dragged into such mundane things. The 'Vande Mataram' is simply a national song without any connotation that could violate the tenets of any religion. But everyone has his own perception, tending to interpret any social-cultural events in terms of religion, which could harm social harmony and co-existence."[18] However, some Christian institutions such as Our Lady of Fatima Convent School in Patiala did not sing the song on its 100th anniversary as mandated by the state. [19]

BBC World Service conducted an international poll In 2003, to choose ten most famous songs of all time. Around 7000 songs were selected from all over the world. According to BBC, people from around the world voted Vande mataram was Second in top 10 songs[20]

Who hath said thou art weak in thy landsWhen the sword flesh out in the seventy million handsAnd seventy million voices roarThy dreadful name from shore to shore?With many strengths who art mighty and stored,To thee I call Mother and Lord!Thou who savest, arise and save!To her I cry who ever her foeman droveBack from plain and SeaAnd shook herself free.

In thy soul, with jeweled hairAnd thy glorious smile divine,Loveliest of all earthly lands,Showering wealth from well-stored hands!Mother, mother mine!Mother sweet, I bow to thee,Mother great and free!

The continuing popularity of Vande Mataram today is documented by the fact that in 2002 it was the voted the second most requested song by listeners on the BBC World Service radio. However, in the final ranking details, the origin was miscredited to a 1950's film.[22]

Throughout its history there have been numerous remakes, recreations, and interpretations of this song. Notable is music composer A. R. Rahman'sVande Mataram released to commemorate fifty years of India's Independence in 1997 produced by Bharat Bala Productions.

The controversy surrounding Vande Mataram is not unique. There has also been some controversy around Jana Gana Mana as the national anthem.

This is not the only song/verse with Vande Mataram as its opening. There is a Sanskrit verse that has been quoted since time immemorial and is very popular as a felicitation/sloka singing in south Indian carnatic music. The verses are as follows:

Imposing Vande Mataram on Muslims is mockery of patriotism: PFI

New Delhi: South India's leading Muslim non-political organization Popular Front of India has strongly condemned the attempts of Sangh Parivar to create communal divide and to question the patriotism of Muslim community in the context of the Deoband resolution passed by Jamiat Ulema-I-Hind regarding singing of Vande Mataram song.

"The BJP which is in crisis due to internal feuds is just capitalizing the issue for political motives," said K M Shareef, General Secretary, PFI.

"Any community has the right to uphold its belief system and to impose upon them any type of worship contrary to their beliefs is against freedom of faith and secularism. To question the loyalty of Indian Muslims on the ground that they reject the concept of worshiping motherland is nothing but a mockery of patriotism. It is ridiculous that an organization like RSS whose leaders and ideologues had stayed away from the struggle for the freedom of the motherland is now pointing fingers at Muslims," Shareef said.

"The Indian Constitution has provided space for each and every community to adhere to its religious beliefs. Respecting the religious sentiments of each community is the binding force of a pluralistic society. The forces which tend to divide the nation by propagating hatred against the right of Muslims to practice monotheism and abstaining from worshiping another deity are posing a real threat to the integrity of the nation," Shareef added.

PFI has also condemned the criticism of Home Minister P. Chidambaram for attending the Jamiat conference in Deoband earlier this week. The organization, however, maintained that the apologetic stand later taken by the Home Minister distancing himself from the issue has only emboldened the communal elements.

"Popular Front of India expects all secular sections of the society especially the political parties to support the fundamental right of Muslims to keep away from singing a song which is against their religious belief system," Shareef said.

Patriotism is reduced to singing Vande Mataram or not

Let us build a new India together. One particular song cannot make or mar the future of a nation or its people, says Dr Mohammad Sajjad on the latest Vande Mataram controversy.

The test of patriotism and nationalism has been reduced to singing or not singing Vande Mataram, a poem in the 19th century novel Anand Math by Bankim Chandra Chatterji.

The kind of nationalism (during our anti-colonial struggle) that believed more in excluding certain groups of people, insisted more on singing it -- which also coined a controversial but famous slogan, 'Bharat desh mein rehna hai to Vande Mataram kehna hoga' (One can live in India only when s/he sings Vande Mataram). Whereas a 'small' section of India's Muslims smelled elements of idolatry (repugnant to Islam) in the text of the poem, and therefore, argued that they should not be asked to prove their patriotism only by singing it.

This was one of the most contested issues even during the Congress ministries of 1937-39, and the bi-national religious nationalism of the Muslim League and its politics of territorial separatism derived some food from it.

This time such a proposition came from a kind of organisation which has a formidable history of confronting British colonialism as well as the Muslim League's separatist nationalism, unlike the re-incarnations of those outfits which believed in exclusionary majoritarian nationalism.

One is left wondering, was there any immediate provocation? Was it really required by the Jamiat-Ul-Ulema-e-Hind to issue any fatwa against Vande Mataram? (After all, those political formations which are identified as representing majoritarian nationalism, are already electorally decimated, and afflicted with disarray in its leadership. They haven't provoked them on the issue in the recent past). If not, then one may read some diabolic attempt at polarising society and the polity. Presumably, that is the cause of the furore in response to the fatwa.

Being a student of modern Indian history, I am particularly more surprised at this kind of gesture of the Jamiat. Why? Because one of the Jamiat's founding fathers, Maulana Abul Mohasin Mohammad Sajjad, was also the founder of the Imarat-e-Sharaiah (Patna), and the Muslim Independent Party, which formed its ministry in Bihar (April-July 1937), took some bold and 'radical' agrarian measures, and kept confronting the League's separatism till the very end.

His correspondence with M A Jinnah, testify how this 'Maulana's' reasonable arguments put the London-educated advocate, Jinnah, in great discomfiture. His essays in Naqeeb, the Urdu mouth piece of the Imarat-e-Shariah, raised remarkably convincing questions against dividing the country merely on religious grounds.

In one of his essays, he even talks of pushing back all religious practices, rituals, processions etc in private/domestic domains, rather than in the public sphere. He proposed that such display of religion in public should be strictly banned. He put this proposal precisely to avoid the religious confrontations, one of the greatest banes of modern India. Has the Jamiat forgotten these words of Maulana Sajjad?

Having said this, one should also try to understand another aspect of Vande Matram. Besides its text, the context of the poem is also 'offensive' because of the fact that the whole narrative and the story-line of the novel, Anand Math, is full of hatred against Muslims. Moreover, it is also appreciating and welcoming of British rule in India.

In the story of the novel, there is a group of saints (sadhus) who call themselves santan, the children of Bharat Mata (Mother India). Its leader Satyanand is imprisoned by the (Muslim) ruler. Satyanand's disciple Gyanand vows to set his guru free, and shouts that they should destroy the cities of the Muslims and that these dirty people should be thrown away into the rivers. The sadhus succeed in their effort, set their guru free, and set all Muslim houses in their way on fire.

In short, atrocities against Muslims, is a recurrent theme in the story of the novel. The story is preferred to be concluded in a way, which is worth noticing: The mission of the santans succeeds, they assemble around their guru and ask that even though they had succeeded in overthrowing the Muslim rulers, they failed to replace them by Hindu ruler; rather the British occupied Calcutta.

The guru consoles his disciples by saying that Hinduism is rich in spiritual strength but deficient in material strength, they would overcome this deficiency with the help of the British, they should therefore welcome British rule. (See Sukumar Murlidharan, 'Patriotism without People' in Social Scientist, May-June 1994; and my essay, 'Kyon ham gaayen Bande Matram?', in Tahzibul Akhlaq, Urdu monthly, Aligarh, February 2003).

As against it, Rabindranath Tagore's [ Images ] novel Ghare Baire, has a character, Nikhil, who is uncomfortable with Vande Mataram, its exclusionary notion of nationalism, as it displays hatred against a particular group of people.

India's pluralist character, vibrant democracy, assertive intelligentsia and all attendant principles/institutions are the best assurance to allay the misgivings of the minorities and other weaker sections.

Any attempt at vitiating such an atmosphere won't be allowed to succeed. No group/organisation, outfit should try to create a fear psychosis.

Let us build a new India together. One particular song cannot make or mar the future of a nation or its people.

Dr Mohammad Sajjad is an assistant professor, Centre of Advanced Study in History at the Aligarh Muslim University.

Dr Mohammad Sajjad

Fatwa on Vande Mataram and Politics vs. Fatwas

The 'veterans' of communal politics in India have once again got a golden opportunity for the time being. A few days back, the Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind adopted a resolution at its 30th general session in Deoband asking Indian Muslims not to recite 'Vande Mataram', an Indian national song. Upto what extent Indian Muslims will follow this resolution, this resolution applies on how many sects of Islam, Do Jamiat have the right to issue fatwas or other religious instructions for all the 73 sects of Muslims? Without giving a thought to all these important aspects, the staunch followers of communal politics- Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Bharatiya Janata Party and its sister organizations have already started giving extreme statements. An interesting thing vis-à-vis this controversial resolution is that the BJP is not criticising Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind much for the resolution, instead it is targeting the Congress for Mr. P. Chidambaram's participation in its general session. The BJP is trying to present the issue in such a way that this resolution has been passed by the Congress and not by the Jamiat.

Let us first know about the Fatwa. What is Fatwa? Who can issue it? And on whom these Fatwas are applied? First of all every sensible person should clear this misconception that the Muslims belong to a particular nation, community, religion or sect. like other religions of the world, there are many sections and classes in Islam. Traditionally, there are 73 different sects in Islam. Prominent among them are Deobandi, Wahaabi, Barelvi, Shiite, Ahmedi, Khojas, Boras, Qadiyani etc. Majority of Muslims of India belong to these sects. The clergy of different sects have different opinions and follow different conventions. Only a few conventions are common among them and that is- all the Muslims believe in one God. All the Muslims consider the Quran Sharif as their holy text and Prophet Mohammad as the messenger of God. So far as the Shiite's and Sunnis are concerned, though five times prayer (Namaaz) in a day is common in both the sects, but there is some difference in the ways of performing this ritual. Also, both communities have their separate interpretation of the holy Quran.

All these differences among Muslims have led to their different mosques. The Madrasas are also separate. Dargaahs (Mausoleums) are separate. Even the rites of birth, death, marriage rituals and even some of the festivals are different. Perhaps, non-Muslims are not so aware of these facts of the Muslims. That's why they start looking at the fatwas issued by the Jamiat , Darul-U-Loom or any other cleric, as for the entire Muslim community. Especially the organizations like the BJP and the RSS, as their 'political business' is entirely based on anti-Muslim rhetoric, they are always in search of such issues. Indeed, an authorized cleric of every sect of Islam has the right to issue fatwas for the people of that particular sect. the people or clergy of any other sect is not bound by the fatwa issued by the clergy of a particular sect. Therefore, this resolution of Jamiat should be considered as applying only on the Muslims related to the Jamiat-Ulama-e-Hind. Other Indian Muslims don't come under this resolution.

Now let us talk about Vande Mataram, fatwas and politics related to it. As mentioned above, despite the differences among them, all the Muslims of the world have no dispute regarding one God, the holy Quran and the prophet. And the teachings of the same Quran and prophet tell us that patriotism is an important character of Islam. These teachings direct the Muslims to be loyal to their countries. Any practicing Muslim, either belonging to any sect, can't doubt his patriotism just because of a 'fatwa'. But unfortunately, the people interested in politics of communal polarization, start talking about sending all the Muslims to Pakistan or call them separatists just on the basis of these irrational fatwas.

The translation of 'Bharat Mata' into 'Maadar-e-hind' was not done by any person belonging to the BJP or the Sangh; instead it was by a great Muslim poet. 'Heaven in the lap of mother' is also an Islamic concept. Therefore to respect one's own nation is within the periphery of Islam. The people, who doubt the patriotism of the Muslims, are concentrating more on their politics of communal polarization. These people should think whether the singing of a national song would influence anybody's patriotism or their attempts to sponsor carnages like Gujarat riots would put a question mark on their own patriotism.

On the other side, the organizations issuing controversial fatwas should also try to come out of the well. These fatwa 'specialist' organizations should also analyse the utility and validity of their outdated fatwas. Since many years, the clerics of Jamiat and Deo Band are issuing fatwas against terrorism. Certainly these are a welcome step and convey a positive message too. But it is equally true that in spite of these fatwas, the incidents of terrorism and killings of innocent people have increased in the recent past. So, the decision to sing Vande Mataram or not, should be left on the Muslim guardians. If a child, with his own will, starts his study after the schools traditional prayer, hymn or song of the school, it should be seen as an example of 'Unity in Diversity' and not in the light of prejudice and orthodoxy.

By

Tanveer Jafri

(About the Author)Author Tanveer Jafri is a columnist based in India.He is related with hundreds of most popular daily news papers/portals in India and abroad. Jafri, Almost writes in the field of communal harmony, world peace, anti communalism, anti terrorism, national integration, national & international politics etc.He is a devoted social activist for world peace, unity, integrity & global brotherhood. Tanveer Jafri is also a member of Haryana Sahitya Academy & Haryana Urdu Academy (state govt. bodies in India). Thousands articles of the author have been published in different newspapers, websites & newsportals throughout the world. He is also a receipent of so many awards in the field of Communal Harmony & other social activities.